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Used clothing Facts & Statistics That Will Blow Your Mind, a blog post by EcoGoodz, a wholesale used clothing supplier

There is more to the resale (secondhand) industry than you may realize. The following facts and statistics may surprise you!

Did you know that approximately 1 out of 5 Americans shops resale? That’s about 64 million of us. But that’s a low percentage compared to the rest of the world. Worldwide about 80% of people buy, use, and wear secondhand goods.

Resale is a multi-billion dollar industry. This includes all facets of resale including used clothing, used furniture, antiques, and vintage items. (source)

Goodwill Industries alone is responsible for generating more than $5 billion in sales in the year 2014. (source)

Sometimes used clothing is exported to other countries. Due to the amount of donations received, thrift stores often cannot sell everything they receive, so they pass it on to other markets. The US is the leading exporter of used textiles, followed by the UK. Combined they exported more than $1 billion worth of used shoes and clothing. Some of this clothing is recycled and made into other products. Some of it is sent to developing countries where it is sold locally. (source)

Tons of clothing is sent to landfills every year. 10.5 million tons, in fact. That’s 21 billion pounds! You know what else weighs that much? Nothing. The heaviest thing on earth only weighs about 5 million pounds.

Used goods are often exported to other countries for sale or reuse. Exporting these goods keeps them out of the landfill and gets them into the hands of people who can use them.

Buying secondhand is good for the environment. Buying used clothing and goods decreases demand for new clothing and goods and keeps virgin resources from being used.

You don’t have to purchase used goods to support the resale industry. Simply donating your gently used items to thrift stores and charitable organizations provides support to the industry. In doing so, you’ll support job trainings and social programs, as well as provided a valuable commodity for others.